Today we’d like to introduce you to Asma Heerji and Rozmin Ladha.
Asma Heerji comes from a family of watchmakers, beginning with her grandfather in the 1960s. This is a tradition that her parents continue today with a wholesale watch store where they sell branded watches and offer watch repair services. Asma grew up helping her dad at the store, by taking inventory and re-stocking shelves, and she gained an appreciation and love for watches as well. When she got older, she decided she wanted to carry on the legacy of her family, but was unhappy with the watches she saw being sold in the market. There was a lack of quality watches being sold at an affordable price and she wanted to fill that gap so she enlisted the help of her sister-in-law, Rozmin Ladha, and together they created a brand called 1302 Watch Co. 1302 is a representation of the sisters-in-law through the use of their birthdays, Rozmin was born on the 13th and Asma was born on the 2nd, hence, 1302. All 1302 watches are made of high-quality stainless-steel cases and are paired with interchangeable, Italian leather or stainless-steel mesh bands. All watches are priced at $79.99 or less and are designed so that customers can customize their style with interchangeable straps. Not only does 1302 offer watches, but they have recently introduced a collection of high-quality, Italian leather bands compatible with Apple’s smartwatches to provide wearable technology lovers with stylish and eco-conscious options to accessorize their watches.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it’s not been a smooth road but we’ve learned a lot along the way. Prior to starting this business, Asma was an IT consultant and Rozmin was an attorney so neither one of us had experience in the fashion industry or knew how to create/market our own brand. We really struggled with finding the right resources to help us build our brand and we were wary of investing too much money into the brand in the beginning. That was a huge mistake. There were many times in the business where we should have spent more money initially on the right resources instead of less money on the wrong ones. An example of this is when we first hired product photographers. We used cheaper options, to begin with, and were really unhappy with the end result so we ended up having to get it re-done, wasting more time and resources. Now, we know that the right people and resources are worth the money spent to help us bring our vision to life.
We’d love to hear more about 1302 Watch Co.
We are a watch boutique specializing in affordable stainless-steel watches with interchangeable, genuine leather or mesh bands. Each watch is custom-designed by founders Asma Heerji and Rozmin Ladha – two sisters-in-law whose fashion styles shine through in the collection’s minimalist neutrals and bold pops of color. Our watches are designed for individuals that desire modern sophistication paired with functionality in their accessories. Our goal is centered around creating watches and bands that are stylish, versatile and made with high-quality materials. Our offerings include women’s watches (size 32mm petite and 38mm), men’s watches (size 42mm) and straps compatible with Apple Watches. What sets us apart from others is our focus on offering a quality product at an affordable price. It was really important for us to create products that are accessible to working professionals and individuals in all walks of life. Additionally, we strongly believe in giving back to the communities around us and are honored to steward our business and each sale towards doing good and giving back. We donate 5% of profits to different charities each year and so far, we have donated to North Texas Food Bank, Days for Girls and Red Cross.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Something that set us up for success in life was seeing our parents work hard every day to give us every advantage they could. It gave us the drive to work hard in everything we do, and their sacrifice motivates us daily to reach for our dreams.
Additionally, both our families emphasized community service through Girl Scouts and other volunteer opportunities. Our parents taught us that we are fortunate and to give to those less fortunate and that is something we continue to do through our business today. They are the reason that we give back 5% of profits from watch sales to charities that are important to us. One such charity is Days for Girls, a charity that provides access to menstrual care and education for girls in third world countries so that they no longer have to miss school while on their periods. This cause is near to our hearts as we look for ways to empower women and help them get the same opportunities globally. We would definitely not call ourselves successful yet, but we are inspired by our parents to be better every day.
Pricing:
- Women’s Watches Pricing: $64.99 to $79.99
- Men’s Watches Pricing: $79.99
- Apple Watch Straps Pricing: $34.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.1302watch.com
- Email: info@1302watchco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1302watchco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1302watchco/
- Twitter: https://www.pinterest.com/1302WatchCo/
Image Credit:
Elkk Photography
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